What role do genetic and environmental influences play in determining intelligence? This question has been one of the most controversial topics throughout the history of psychology and remains a hot topic of debate to this day. Show
In addition to disagreements about the basic nature of intelligence, psychologists have spent a great amount of time and energy debating the various influences on individual intelligence. The debate focuses on one of the major questions in psychology: Which is more important—nature or nurture? Do Genetics or Intelligence Play a Bigger Role in Determining Intelligence?Today, psychologists recognize that both genetics and the environment play a role in determining intelligence. It now becomes a matter of determining exactly how much of an influence each factor has. Twin studies suggest that the variance in IQ is linked to genetics. This research suggests that genetics may play a larger role than environmental factors in determining individual IQ. One important thing to note about the genetics of intelligence is that it is not controlled by a single "intelligence gene." Instead, it is the result of complex interactions between many genes. Next, it is important to note that genetics and the environment interact to determine exactly how inherited genes are expressed. For example, if a person has tall parents, it is likely that the individual will also grow to be tall. However, the exact height the person reaches can be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition and disease. A child may be born with genes for brightness, but if that child grows up in a deprived environment where he is malnourished and lacks access to educational opportunities, he may not score well on measures of IQ. Evidence of Genetic Influences on Intelligence
In addition to inherited characteristics, other biological factors such as maternal age, prenatal exposure to harmful substances, and prenatal malnutrition may also influence intelligence. Studies have found that people with lower intelligence are more likely to report criminal victimization, which can have serious consequences including physical injury, loss of property, and psychological and emotional trauma. Evidence of Environmental Influences on Intelligence
So what are some of the environmental influences that can account for variances in intelligence? For example, studies have found that first-born children tend to have higher IQs than later-born siblings. Why? Many experts believe that this is because first-born children receive more attention from parents. Research also suggests that parents expect older children to perform better on a variety of tasks, whereas later-born siblings face lesser task-focused expectations. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Kendra Cherry Thanks for your feedback! What are twin studies and adoption studies?In general, twin studies investigate the role of nature (genes) and adoption studies investigate the role of nurture (upbringing). Adoption studies and twin studies are always natural experiments.
Which is a twin adoption Study quizlet?A method of assessing the relative influences of heredity and environment is studying the similarities and differences between people who share and do not share genes and environments. These research methods are called twin studies and adoption studies.
When researchers use identical twin and adoption studies?Researchers use twin and adoption studies to understand how much variation among individuals is due to genetic makeup and how much to environmental factors. Some studies compare the traits and behaviors of identical twins (same genes) and fraternal twins (different genes, as in any two siblings).
What does research with identical twins on the role of heredity in mental illness indicate quizlet?What does research with monozygotic twins on the role of heredity in mental illness indicate? The second twin has an increased risk of developing the same disorder, but identical twins are usually discordant with respect to mental illness and behavioural disorders.
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